Has anyone used solar chargers in the Prius?

[neon tetra]

I know I'd have to modify the cigarette lighter outlets to be always on, but do these things really do much?

SALE! Sunsei SE-135 Battery Saver | Batterystuff.com

Would they possibly do any damage?

[efusco]

Originally Posted by neon tetra

I know I'd have to modify the cigarette lighter outlets to be always on, but do these things really do much?

SALE! Sunsei SE-135 Battery Saver | Batterystuff.com

Would they possibly do any damage?

I had one early when I first got my Prius. Mine came with some alligator clips that I attached directly to the 12v battery rather than using the power outlet. My intention was to plug it in when the car would sit for a few days unused.
I think I plugged it in once. Eventually I just got tired of the thing sitting unused in the back of the car. If you do park, in the open sun, for a week to 10 days at a time it might benefit you to plug it in at those times, but other than that I think you'll find it to become more clutter than any actual benefit.

What I thought you were asking about was something like this:

[richard schumacher]

What Evan wrote. I bought one and slowly realized that it wasn't worth having it cluttering up the rear seat.

[Flying White Dutchman]

i have a 13watt panel and it works great!
keeps the 12 volt battery charged when its standing still long periods of time

efusco : where is that photo from?
any specs?

[ForTheGlory]

If there was a way to hook it up to the HV battery (there definitely is not a way to do it easily...voltage is too low) I could see myself using one. But I don't see that I'd want it for 12v battery charging.

[efusco]

Originally Posted by Flying White Dutchman

i have a 13watt panel and it works great!
keeps the 12 volt battery charged when its standing still long periods of time

efusco : where is that photo from?
any specs?

I took that (terrible photo) at hybridfest last year. It's a plug-in solar prius build by veridian corporation.

[auricchio]

Jeez, Evan, I can tell you're not using a Mac with iPhoto. Two minutes. Not the prettiest with that quickie editing, but it sure looks more usable.

[efusco]

Originally Posted by auricchio

Jeez, Evan, I can tell you're not using a Mac with iPhoto. Two minutes. Not the prettiest with that quickie editing, but it sure looks more usable.

yea yea, I took over 800 photos there, I'm not going to edit them all. I actually did edit that one a little after I saw how bad it posted....

But, it's an irrepairably bad image bc of that nasty glare coming off the left rear column of the hatch screwing up the exposure. But it's my own fault for not checking it and then adjusting for it.

[efusco]

Originally Posted by auricchio

Jeez, Evan, I can tell you're not using a Mac with iPhoto. Two minutes. Not the prettiest with that quickie editing, but it sure looks more usable.

yea yea, I took over 800 photos there, I'm not going to edit them all. I actually did edit that one a little after I saw how bad it posted....

But, it's an irrepairably bad image bc of that nasty glare coming off the left rear column of the hatch screwing up the exposure. But it's my own fault for not checking it and then adjusting for it.

[Optimus]

hmmm, a new style of "sun" roof....